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Running: Jingle Bell Run gets early jump
By Joe Shafran, For The Capital
Well, they finally went and did it; the Arthritis Foundation moved its traditional December Jingle Bell Run up to this coming Sunday morning at Marley Station.
As the name would imply, they always had this race just before Christmas, but I’m told they have had it with the unpredictable December weather that brought snow on race day in December the past couple of years.
While there has been frost in the northern and western suburbs this week, there’s no snow in the forecast for Sunday, so it’s sure to go. And maybe it’s luck also, that the Foundation has Evan Thomas, the indomitable Strider, with whom to consult and be consoled.
Last year, when a few inches of snow shut down the official race, Evan, with the help of a couple of his buddies, shuffled a couple hundred orange safety cones around and set up a makeshift unofficial 5K run in and around the then just-plowed Mall parking lot. But that apparently was a heroic effort never to be duplicated.
Evan told me a few days ago, that truth be known, with all that scurrying around and the placing of the safety cones, it may not have been a true 5K race. It was one of those things they did by the seat of their pants.
He’s apologetic and now says to make up for it and to salve his conscience, he personally adds a tenth of a mile to every 5K he now runs and suggests it for others who may have run between his safety cones in the snow last year.
And he also told me a few days ago that even if it’s closer to Thanksgiving than Christmas, the runners will still get into the spirit, with antlers, flashing red noses and candy canes .
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Also, on the subject of the change of race dates, while it’s not a drastic move, the folks at Anne Arundel Community College have moved their pre-Thanksgiving turkey trot from Nov. 23 to the next day, Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving but that according to Debbie McDaniel - Shaughney is to better accommodate the public.
The 5K Trot and one mile run begin at noon at Siegert Field on the Arnold campus. You can call 410-777-7259. I don’t think there’s a big purse for the winners, rather turkey’s and fresh baked pies.
And there’s yet another early season run, this one in the evening, this Saturday, called Dashing Through the Show (not snow) at Sandy Point State Park a 6 p.m. It’s a 2-mile fun run past the Lights On the Bay spectacle for the Anne Arundel Medical Center and the Annapolis Striders.
Call 443-481-3161. And on Sunday Nov. 21, there’s the Cold Turkey 10K in memory of Kati Fisher at 8:30 a.m. at Central Middle School at Edgewater. It’s a Strider’s run and you can call the race director Donna Cogle at 443-623-6628 for information and of course, feel free to tell her Joe sent you.
This run is the culmination of the Striders’ 10K running course that began in the fall.
Seeing Anne Arundel County Sheriff George Johnson announcing the awards at the Victim’s Fund 5K Run Sunday at Severna Park reminded me of my first half marathon many years back, sponsored by a county Sheriff in Ohio, who also stood before the crowd and made the similar awards anouncement without mentioning my name. Next to the Sherriff on Sunday to make it doubly official was State’s Attorney Frank Wethersbee and race director Shelda George.
Interesting at that race, among many other speedsters, it was good to see a contingent of 42 St. Anne’s Day School cross country runners and their coach and runner Cindi Barney, and a spit-and-polish contingent from the Anne Arundel County Police Academy. Halfway through their training, the cadets, headed by one of their instructors, Andy Burger, were doing what was called a formation run in blue sweats led by a flag bearer in what Officer Burger said was an upper twenty minute time. The Sunday 5K was dedicated to the late Judge, Warren Duckett.
After the race I heard someone use the term, P.W. , "personal worst" and it came from longtime runner, Scott Lutrey of Severna Park, who was chagrined by his time of a few seconds over 22 minutes.
And when I saw the name Riggin as one of the finishers, I assumed it was Kristin, the voice of the Attorney’s office, but it wasn’t her. It was her mother, clad in black tights, a marathoner of note.
Race results
Victim’s Fund 5K , Sunday, at Severna Park
Men: Dex Dixon 16:29; Dave Berardi. 17:10; Michael Dusenberry 17:48
Women: 1. Gloria Santopia 19:30; 2. Sheryl Kline 19:47; Jennifer Sullivan. 20:21
New York Marathon, Sunday
Local finishers: 148th, Eric J. Furst, 23, 2:45:40; women, 47th, Heather Iasso, 31, 3:12
Running Calendar
Saturday: Series of races sponsored by rec department and Annapolis Striders, 8:05 a.m, at Downs Park. One-mile fun run, tot trot and 5-mile run. Call Don Higdon, 410-266-0561, Mike Busch, 410-222-7300 or visit www.annapolisstriders.org
Saturday: Richmond Marathon and 8k Centipede. 8 a.m. Last of this year’s Boston qualifiers. Race day registration is closed, but Friday registration is open until 9 p.m. In the Centipede 8K, groups of five are or more are tethered. Visit the web site for more information.
Nov. 21: Annapolis Striders Cold Turkey 10K, 8:30 a.m., at Central Middle School. Call 443-623-6628 or visit www.annapolisstriders.org
Nov. 24: The 16th annual 5K Turkey Trot and one-mile run at Anne Arundel Community College. Call or e-mail Kathy Stanton, 410-777-2767, or kmstanton@aacc.edu.
Dec. 4: Falls Church, Va., 10 a.m. Jeff Galloway, Olympian, author and motivational speaker conducts his one day running school designed to invoke the thought process. At Metro Run and Walk, 7516 Leesburg Pike, 703-790-3338.
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